By Melinda Bowen-Houck
Marketing Director, Penn-Northwest Development Corp.
HERMITAGE, Pa. – In a testament to the resilience and commitment of Mercer County, Pa., Penn-Northwest Development Corp. marked another year of progress during its November annual meeting by honoring businesses and individuals who contributed to the region’s success.
At the heart of the celebration were outgoing board members Scott Kalmanek and Scott Free, who were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards for playing pivotal roles in guiding the organization.
Nick Pochiba received the Homegrown award in recognition of his contributions to PNDC’s Future Leaders and Homegrown initiatives.
Jim Bombeck, Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce executive director, and Nathan Koble of National Fuel received the Improvement Movement Champion awards, based on their efforts to promote Penn-Northwest.
The New Industry Award was given to WestWinn Urban Ag, the indoor urban farm at the former Westinghouse plant in Sharon, Pa. WestWinn has combined aquaculture and hydroponics (aquaponics) to produce sustainably grown produce and fish.
Zekelman Industries was honored for its investments and job creation efforts. Its collaborations with the private sector and development groups have created prosperity and employment opportunities.
The Mercer County Innovation Fund presented its first award and was highlighted at the annual meeting. The fund invites companies to apply for financing for new products, processes or market strategies that will likely generate jobs within Mercer County.
Photo: The Mercer County Courthouse in Mercer, Pa. Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
